The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29
Hon. E. B. Washburne Dead.

r. Washhurne, ex Minister to
France. died at the house of his son,
Hampstead Washburne, in this city.
at o'clock this afternoon, of conges-
| tion of the heart and brain, Mr..
Washburne had about recovered from
his last attack of brain congestion,
and arose this morning feeling quite
we'll. About O'Clock, as he was
seated in the barber's chair. he was
seized with a pain in the region of his
heart, so severe that he was rendered
for a time. speechless. Mr.. Wash
burne was assisted to bed and the
family and physicians hastily sum-
moned. His physician prescribed
for the attack. and in short time he
experienced great relief. He rested
quite easily for the remainder of the
day, the family of Hampstead re-
naming at his bedside.
Shortly before 1 O'Clock he arose,
without assistance, to take drink of
water, but was, almost Immediately
seized with recurrence of the pain
in the heart, this time more severe
than before. He was quickly assist
ed to the bed and rest0rativeS adj
ministered. He lay for moment
apparently resting, after which he
Earned his head to one side and soon
expired, without giving any indica-
ton of further pain. After the Sec
ond seizure Mr.. Washburne never
spoke. The sudden death was Sc
we're and almost unexpected blow to
his family, as his doctors had been
led by the general improvement in
his condition for the past two weeks
to believe that he had fully recover
ed from the late attack and would be
spared several years. Mr.. Wash
burne's wife, it will be remembered,
died few months ago. He leaves
five children Hampstead Wash
burne, City Attorney of Chicago /;
William p. Washburne, of Liver
more, Me; Mrs. William d. Bishop,
Bridgeport, Conn.,; Mrs. A. H. Fow-
Ter. Denver, COL, and E. B. Wash
burne, jr., aged IS, who is now at.
tending Golden Hill school, Kings.
ton, N. Y.
Mr.. Washburne has been for thir.
ty years conspicuous figure in the
history of the country, and was the
most distinguished of noted family
He was born in 1916 in the little vii.
lage of Llvermore, near Portland
Me-, and began life in great poverty.
By self-denial and industry he arose
above his surroundings. After grad.
uating at the Cambridge Law School
he emigrated West in 1885,, settling
at Galena, Ill.,, in the practice of his
profession. He soon gained promi.
nence and lucrative business. In
the early fifties he entered the politi.
cal arena, and was sent many times
to Congress. where his strong charac-
ter secured him positions of distinc-
ton, He served as Chairman OF
Commerce. Appropriations, and was
Chairman of the Committee of the
Whole in the House during the i'm
peachment of Andrew Johnson.
1t was during the war that he came
prominently forward as leader OF
advanced Republican principles. He
advocated the most extreme meas
ures for the prosecution of the war,
1t was to him General Grant was
chiefly indebted for hearty support in
his controversy with Ha!leck after
the siege of DonelsoD, and later for
the passage by Congress of the bills
constituting Grant first Lieutenant
General and then General of the
army.
i When General Grant reached the
Presidedcy his first act almost was
one of gratitude. He invited Wash
burne to be Premier of his Cabinet,
Mr.. Washburne accepted the post OF
Secretary of State with great relunc-
lance on account of his health and
was soon obliged to resign it. He
was then prevailed upon to accept
the mission to France. post which
he held for nearly nine years and
where his signal service during the
memorable siege of Paris and his
bravery during the horrors of the
Commune reflected lustre on the
American name.
Alone of all the foreign representa-.
tives, Mr.. Washburne remained at
his post. He acted, at Bismarck's
request, as protector of the Germans
in Paris. and to his mediation was
due their personal safety and final
deliyerance from the city. 1t was
estimated that fully 10000 German
subjects owed their lives to his inter-
yention. For these services Emper-
or William conferred upon Mr..
Washburne not only his most ardent
thanks, but the Order of the Red